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Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin has a very simple solution to ending Putin’s war in Ukraine. When asked about an off-ramp for Putin, she replied, “The way out of the conflict is for Russia to leave Ukraine. That’s the way out of the conflict.” What more do you need to know?

She’s right, of course, but it won’t end that simply. Putin is in a land-grabbing mood and isn’t likely to simply admit defeat. Russia has been exposed to the world as a paper tiger. It’s military force is being defeated by the Ukrainians fiercely fighting for control of their country. Russians don’t even want to fight the war and are fleeing or surrendering to Ukrainian forces. But, when Mad Vlad brings nukes into the conversation, it’s time to pay attention.

For days now, the use of the word Armageddon has been everywhere. Why? Well, Putin has threatened to use his nukes and the old geezer in the White House is freaked-out about that. Sure, Putin should be taken seriously about his insane threats, which is what Joe Biden keeps saying, but Biden ratchets things up by referring to nuclear threats in terms of Armageddon. Biden is drawing comparisons to the Cuban Missile Crisis and talking about nukes at Democrat fundraisers. He frets about an off-ramp for Putin.

Speaking at a Democratic fundraiser, Biden said Thursday night that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “a guy I know fairly well” and the Russian leader is “not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons.”

Biden added, “We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis.” He suggested the threat from Putin is real “because his military is — you might say — significantly underperforming.”

Biden on Thursday also challenged Russian nuclear doctrine, warning that the use of a lower-yield tactical weapon could quickly spiral out of control into global destruction.

“I don’t think there is any such a thing as the ability to easily use a tactical nuclear weapon and not end up with Armageddon,” Biden said.

He added that he was still “trying to figure” out Putin’s “off-ramp” in Ukraine.

“Where does he find a way out?” Biden asked. “Where does he find himself in a position that he does not only lose face but lose significant power within Russia?”

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It’s too late. Putin has already lost face. The world sees him losing battles in Ukraine. His troops failed to take Kyiv. His people are already rising up against him in protest, at great personal risk because protesting is not legal in Russia. Men are fleeing the country rather than be forced into battle. Will he survive after all of this is over? That remains to be seen. Putin is ill, it is reported, and it is unclear just how ill he is. Today is Putin’s 70th birthday and he’s been around for years. He’s a survivor, at least so far.

Putin is a desperate man. That is why he’s bringing nukes into the conversation. He has to put on a show of bravado.

“I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction … and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal,” Putin said Sept. 21, adding with a lingering stare at the camera, “It’s not a bluff.”

Joe Biden is telling Democrat donors at fundraisers that he knows Putin and takes him seriously. The national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, is saying that the U.S. has been clear to Russia that there will be consequences for using a nuclear weapon in Ukraine. This particular fundraiser on Thursday was at the Manhattan home of James and Kathryn Murdoch. (I know.)

“This is something that we are attuned to, taking very seriously, and communicating directly with Russia about, including the kind of decisive responses the United States would have if they went down that dark road,” Sullivan said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier Thursday that Putin understands that the “world will never forgive” a Russian nuclear strike.

“He understands that after the use of nuclear weapons he would be unable any more to preserve, so to speak, his life, and I’m confident of that,” Zelenskyy said.

Biden’s comments came during a private fundraiser for Democratic Senate candidates at the Manhattan home of James and Kathryn Murdoch. He tends to be more unguarded — often speaking with just rough notes — in such settings, which are open only to a handful of reporters without cameras or recording devices.

Here’s the thing – Biden can navel-gaze and ponder what Putin’s off-ramp is all he wants. His national security team can warn The Kremlin about the consequences of a nuclear strike in Ukraine all it wants, but Joe Biden is not seen as a strong leader. Ever since the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, no one takes him seriously as a world leader. Furthermore, he was brought into helping to stand up Ukraine with other NATO countries kicking and screaming. He took his sweet time before committing U.S. support. The old man who goes around bloviating about saving democracy sure wasn’t too interested in doing so until some European leaders pushed him to do so in Ukraine. Now Sleepy Joe brags about how he brought NATO members together to help defend Ukraine. You can’t make this stuff up. Remember when Biden said a little invasion from Russia wouldn’t be too bad for Ukraine? Good times, good times. That was the attitude in the Obama administration, apparently, because they didn’t do squat to help when Putin decided he wanted to annex Crimea.

So, yeah, Prime Minister Marin’s solution to an invasion from Russia was flippant and yet serious. Finland borders Russia and there is a lot of history there. Finland has been under Russian rule in the past. Finland kept its independence and democracy through the Cold War and the price for that was neutrality. The country stayed out of alliances. It is a member of the EU. Now Finland is applying to become a member of NATO.

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